Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District

As part of Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District Project Clear, MSD’s Consent Decree with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Missouri Coalition for the Environment, MSD will spend $100 million in rainscaping investments over a period of 23 years, with an overall goal of reducing combined sewer overflows to the Mississippi River. The Rainscaping Large Scale Grants Program offers private landowners a per-acre reimbursement for installing green infrastructure, and through an innovative partnership with a mission-driven project developer, Greenprint Partners, MSD is able to deliver funding to institutional ratepayers located in lower-income areas of the St. Louis. These projects drive more equitable distribution of grant funds and while helping prevent combined sewer overflows.

Project at a Glance

Utility Overview

Utility: Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District
Location: St Louis, MO
Population served: 1.3 million
Service area: 525 square miles
Project Developer: Greenprint Partners
Project Proponents: Institutional ratepayers in MSD’s service area

Challenges

Combined sewer overflows
Aging water infrastructure
Need to motivate private property owners and equitably build resilient solutions

Solution

Institutional ratepayer and vacant lot participation in MSD’s Rainscaping Large Scale Grants Program to install green infrastructure on their private property and bring multiple benefits to vulnerable communities.

Program costs and funding sources